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The life of a mom can be crazy! But that doesn’t mean mom has to cut out everything she likes to do just because of the chaotic plans. There are ways to squeeze it in, make it work, or make a routine. For some moms it may be reading, a craft, a bath, sitting down to eat. But I would encourage all you moms, move your body somehow, some way, its good for you! For me, I enjoy the time I get to workout. Some days its short, other days I have more time. Some days I am interrupted by a short nap, other days I actually get a shower.  But whatever it is, for me, its good for me to be able to get in some sort of active movement. So whatever it is for you, a walk, yoga, HIIT, Strength training, its good for us mamas to get moving!

What are the benefits of exercise

• Heart healthy
• Boosts seratonin
• Gets your body moving
• Can get you outside
• alleviate anxiety
• sharpen memory
• Actually get more energy
• Sleep better
• Increases strength and flexibility
• Increase self confidence
• Reduce sickness
• Discipline
• Creativity

Benefits for a mom exercising

• Sets example for kiddos to be active
• Get some YOU time
• Kids see that mom is important too
• Relieves stress of kids
• End up having more energy for your family
• Meet people, make new friends at a class

Exercise while pregnant

• Lower blood pressure
• Easier recovery post delivery
• Helps with strength during delivery
• Fights fatigue
• Ease soreness
• Good for babies brains

Don’t have a gym? Get outside.

Don’t like to do things on your own? Call a freind to take a walk. Find a Fit4mom class.

Kids are busy and want to play? Make the park your workout. Do squats while making some food.

It’s …

Almost mom, Super mom “Gammie”, Grammie Rozie “GGR”, New mom

Do you find yourself wondering if your husband, kids, or family Will be planning something for Mother’s Day? Well do not fear, just send this link to your husband and it’s a foolproof way to get him some help with the day and take the work for the mom out of it. So here’s some ideas to get you thinking.

Morning Activity

• Breakfast in Bed
• Coffee that mom doesn’t have to make
• When you run out to get coffee, grab some flowers
• Have the kids have a competition to see who can get ready the quickest for church
• Let mom have some quiet time with coffee all on her own
• Let mom get ready uninterrupted
• Put food in the crockpot for dinner

Afternoon Activity

• Picnic (pick up to go food at your local grocery store or quick restaurant)
• Hike (make sure you have all necessary sunscreen/water bottles/ bags/ shoes)
• Let mom go get a pedicure, nails done, frozen yogurt, coffee, massage a silent outing for an hour
• Scavenger hunt with clues to her favorite places (older kids help out)
• Day trip to a special place, trip down memory lane, creative destination
• Plant something with the kids in the garden
• Let mom go on a girls outing if she wants to
• Clean the house while shes gone
• Take mom shopping with no complaining from kids
• Dad take the pictures to document the day (usually its the mom pulling out the phone and pulling teeth to get everyone together in a selfie)

Night Activity

• Make dinner, pick up dinner out, serve dinner from the crock pot
• Dad Puts the kids to bed
• Let mom take a bath
• Do the dishes
• Get a babysitter and take mom out on a date, movie, dessert,

Happy Easter!

The message of Easter never gets old. It is THE message. THE reason our hope is in a living God.

Today, we sang the song, “What a Beautiful Name,” at church. I feel like this song is such a perfect telling of the Easter story, and the exact words to read and share this Easter day. I have posted the words below, but I recommend if you can, watch the lyric video and sing this praise song to our Lord.

What a Beautiful Name Lyric Video

Are you thirsty? Do you feel like your thirst is never quenched? Do you feel an ongoing need for hydration? Are we every fully satisfied?

Water is essential to our lives. I am sure you already know we cannot survive without it. But did you know our bodies are made of 50-70% water? Water is vital as it dissolves substances, carries nutrients, transports oxygen, aids other organs, regulates body temperature, sends electrical messages, helps digestion, and many other essential functions. And not only is our body made of water, we have to continually put water in to continue replenishing what we use and lose. So we never arrive and have a sufficient and lasting amount of water. We always need more and more. How people get water into their body can look a little different, but the base has to be water. Water in its purest form is the best. But you can get small amounts of waters from teas, fruits, vegetables, and other foods. But that doesn’t replace the need for just pure water.

We always think of drinking water once we get thirsty, but what we forget is it is much more beneficial to hydrate yourself consistently. When competing or exercising, the process of drinking water should happen way before you even start. Water improves performance from the beginning. Once you feel thirsty, it has already gone too far. Your body is then in survival mode. Water needs to be an every day, all the time, without even thinking, choice.

Now some of you may see where I am going, but can’t we look at this and compare it to our lives as believers. To be truly refreshed, we need to saturate ourself in the love of Jesus, the word of God, the community of believers, the blessing …

Easter has become all about the Easter Bunny, the egg hunt, baskets, and the new outfit. But we can bring Jesus into all of that. There are ways to incorporate the real story of Jesus into the eggs, the fun, the candy, and the whole day.

Easter Story: Talk about the Easter Story, Passover, Palm Sunday, Lent, Good Friday, and Resurrection Day. Celebrate the day, possibly have a passover meal

Decorating Eggs: Resurrection Eggs

Egg Hunt: 

• Use the resurrection eggs. Have different prizes for different eggs
• Hide clues in the eggs and the kids have to answer the question to get the prize
• Egg a friends house http://www.thedatingdivas.com/youve-been-egged/

Easter Basket:

• Easter kid books:
• New Bible
• Cross Necklace
• Bible verse cards

Treats:

• Make a jelly bean bag and attach this poem:

RED is for the blood He gave.
GREEN is for the grass He made.
YELLOW is for the sun so bright.
ORANGE is for the edge of night.
BLACK is for the sins we made.
WHITE is for the grace he gave.
PURPLE is for His hour of sorrow.
PINK is for our new tomorrow.
A bag full of jelly beans colorful and sweet,
Is a prayer, is a promise, is a special treat.

• Make chocolate covered pretzel cross
• 
• Resurrection rolls Recipe

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How much water should we really be drinking? Some people say 8 8 oz glasses, others say half your body weight in water. There is not one true answer because so much of this depends on activity level, diet, climate, health, temperature, and if you are pregnant. But however much water you are drinking, you should probably drink more. Our bodies need it.

The human body is made up of 60-75% water.

What does water do for our body?

• digestion
• release toxins
• transport nutrients
• protein production
• enzyme function
• brain: cognitive function and memory
• heart: maintain cardiac output, heart rate and blood pressure

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What else counts?

• Decaf tea
• Vitamin waters, etc.
• Certain fruits and vegetables

What dehydrates?

• exercise
• caffeinated drinks/sodas
• Alcohol
• Coffee
• Salty foods
• Certain medicines
• stress
• breastfeeding

Favorite Products Amazon’s top sellers

• Hydroflask
• Nalgene
• Thermoflask
• Camelback
• Klean Kanteen

And reminder, get your kids to drink water too!

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What does it mean to be healthy? What kinds of things do you do to be healthy? We pour so much time and effort into healthy living, healthy eating, healthy habits, and healthy thinking. It takes intentional effort. It takes planned out thought. It takes discipline. It takes saying yes to certain things and no to others. In the moment you may be what you think might be sacrificing, but you are trying to make certain choices, change, and change your lifestyle because of the lasting benefit.

Some people call it dieting, others call it healthy living. But it is all the same thing. It all comes down to changing your actions to change the effect. What should really be focusing on is creating a healthy lifestyle.  Because then it isn’t just a fad, the newest trend, or a temporary phase. A changed lifestyle lasts. When you first start a diet you usually cut things out or add things in.  Have less dessert throughout the week, make healthier choices at meals, and control your portions.  The more established those habits become, the more routine it becomes.  It becomes second nature to make healthy choices. It becomes a part of who you are.  Usually over time you prefer the good things rather than the instant pleasure of the not so healthy things. Your appetite changes. Your cravings change. And you change.

Often times faith and a spiritual life is seen as something that is regimented and monitored.  You have to “do” all these things to feel close to God.  There is a continual push to read your Bible, pray, and be surrounded by good people. And we say it is because you feel closer to the Lord through these things, you feel centered on the truth of God, you experience …

March is National Nutrition Month, so I am VERY excited to share my latest meal prep obsession: Omelette Bags!

Lunch is a hard meal for me to eat well because I’m super hungry and want to eat “yesterday” after our busy mornings. Meal prepping my lunch helps immensely! It keeps me on track and fueled, which means I’m feeling better throughout the day and making healthier choices more consistently.

My new favorite meal prep is these very simple omelette bags. Basically, you put anything and everything you could want in an omelette in a zip lock bag and throw it in the fridge. When it is time to eat, dump the bag in a pan with a little healthy oil and sauté to your liking. Cook the eggs on top, or transfer the veggies to a bowl or plate and cook the eggs separate. TADA! A delicious and healthy lunch.

What’s in my bag?

Roasted Brussels Sprouts (see below!)

Cubed and cooked sweet potato (see below)

Spinach

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Colorful carrots

Sweet onion

Zucchini

I choose to chop up my veggies and leave them raw (with the exception of the Brussels and Sweet Potatoes, which I pre-cooked.)

Sweet Potato: I skin, cube and boil for 12ish minutes until soft.

Brussels Sprouts: I stem and half then coat in a little avocado oil, salt and pepper. Roast 20-30 minutes at 350 degrees.

The finished prep:

I love this meal. Every time it is so delicious. I even pre-cook it and take it with me to Disneyland!

Do you meal prep? Let me know if you try the omelette bags!

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